Skateboard wheel cover

ABSTRACT

A skateboard wheel cover. The skateboard wheel cover can include a shielding portion, a sidewall portion coupled to the shielding portion, and a coupling portion coupled to the sidewall portion. The shielding portion may have an arcuate shape and may remain stationary while the skateboard is in use. The coupling portion may be adapted to couple to a wheel nut or an axle of a skateboard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/670,555, filed Jul. 11, 2012 and entitled Skateboard Wheel Cover, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Longboards and skateboards have been used as a means for convenient personal transportation. Common problems faced by many riders include wheel bite, which is when the bottom surface of the board impacts one of the wheels while the rider is turning. This causes the wheels to lock, and often results in fall or injury to the rider. Another problem facing riders is the cleanliness of the means of transportation. When riding over a wet surface, the wheels spray liquid and waste at the rider and the surrounding environment. Therefore, it can be desirable to eliminate both of the above problems to promote overall safety and cleanliness of riding a skateboard.

SUMMARY

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a skateboard wheel cover may be disclosed. A skateboard wheel cover. The skateboard wheel cover can include a shielding portion, a sidewall portion coupled to the shielding portion, and a coupling portion coupled to the sidewall portion. The shielding portion may have an arcuate shape and may remain stationary while the skateboard is in use. The coupling portion may be adapted to couple to a wheel nut or an axle of a skateboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover attached to a skateboard wheel.

FIG. 4 is a rear and bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover/

FIGS. 5 a-5 b are cross-sectional views of a coupling portion of an exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover attached to a skateboard wheel.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover attached to a skateboard wheel.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover coupled to a skateboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration”. The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

Generally referring to FIGS. 1-5, a skateboard wheel cover may be described. In the exemplary embodiments described by the figures, a wheel cover may include a shielding portion that may cover a portion of a skateboard wheel and a coupling portion that facilitates attaching the cover to an axle or a wheel nut of a skateboard. The wheel cover may remain stationary while the skateboard is in use and can allow for direct contact between the ground and the skateboard wheel. The wheel cover may cover the top portion of the skateboard wheel so as to shield the rider from splashing and debris and may act as a barrier between a bottom surface of the skateboard and the skateboard wheel so as to prevent wheel bite. The wheel cover can further allow a rider to stand thereon, giving the rider the ability to execute new tricks and maneuvers.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a skateboard wheel cover 100. The cover may include a shielding portion 102 and a mounting portion 112 coupled to the shielding portion. Shielding portion 102 and mounting portion 112 may be integrally formed, for example from plastic, metal, or any other desired light-weight material and durable material, and may be coated with a glossy or waterproofing agent, such as clear acrylic. In other embodiments, shielding portion 102 and mounting portion 112 may be formed as two or more individual components and coupled to each other with an adhesive.

Shielding portion 102 may include an upper shield 104. When cover 100 is coupled to a skateboard, upper shield 104 may be disposed over the top of a wheel of the skateboard. Upper shield 104 may have an arcuate shape substantially similar to, and with a greater diameter than an upper sector of a skateboard wheel. The width of upper shield 104 may be substantially similar to or greater than the width of the skateboard wheel.

Shielding portion 102 may be coupled to mounting portion 112 via a sidewall 106. Sidewall 106 may have any desired shape that enables cover 100 to function as described herein. Sidewall 106 may extend substantially vertically from shielding portion 102 and may curve inwardly towards mounting portion 112 as it approaches the mounting portion.

Sidewall 106 may further include reinforcing structures 108, for example a plurality of ribs. Reinforcing structures 108 may impart rigidity to and impede flexing of sidewall 106. This can allow a user to stand on shielding portion 102 without the shielding portion 102 contacting the wheel of the skateboard. A portion of sidewall 106 may further display indicia 110, which may be any desired indicia. Additionally, portions of cover 100 may include high-visibility markings, for example reflective or fluorescent decals or paint.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-5, mounting portion 112 may include a cylindrical portion 114 surrounding a bore 116. Bore 116 may have a diameter sufficient to receive a standard skateboard wheel mounting nut therein. A flange 118 may be disposed within bore 116, the flange 118 having an aperture 120 defined therein. Aperture 120 may be disposed coaxially to bore 116 and may have a diameter sufficient to receive an axle 12 of a skateboard therethrough. A toothed ring 122 may be disposed concentrically with aperture 120 on the inward facing side of flange 118. Toothed ring 122 may be keyed so as to engage the outer surface and the vertices of an inner nut 14 Inner nut 14 may be threadably coupled to axle 12 and may be tightened against the bearing of skateboard wheel 10.

Cover 100 may be positioned such that flange 118 abuts inner nut 14. An outer nut 16 may be threadably coupled to axle 12 and may abut the outward facing side of flange 118. As outer nut 16 is tightened against flange 118, flange 118 may be secured between nuts 14, 16. Additionally, toothed ring 122 may engage inner nut 16 so as to prevent rotation of cover 100 with respect to axle 12. Furthermore, outer nut 16 may have a thread count different from the thread count of axle 12 so as to increase rotational resistance and increase the difficulty of removal of outer nut 16 and cover 100. In some embodiments, a washer or spacer may be disposed between flange 118 and outer nut 16 so as to reduce the likelihood of outer nut rotating in the event that cover 100 is rotated.

In other exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, a keyed aperture 124 may be provided. Aperture 124 may be keyed so as to engage the outer surface and the vertices of a mounting nut 18 of a skateboard wheel 10. The mounting nut 18 may be threadably coupled to axle 12 and may be tightened against the bearing of skateboard wheel 10. In such embodiments, cover 100 may be secured to the skateboard by a friction fit between mounting nut 18 and aperture 124, or by any other coupling such as an adhesive.

FIG. 5 shows a pair of skateboard wheel covers 100 attached to a skateboard axle 12 and wheels 10. Axle 12 may extend to skateboard wheels 10, and be secured thereto by at least one mounting nut. Coupling portion 112 may be secured to the mounting nut, for example by friction fit of the exposed nut being disposed within aperture 116, or by any other securing mechanisms, for example an adhesive.

When attached, wheel cover 100 may cover a sector of skateboard wheel 10. The sector of the wheel covered by cover 100 may be an upper sector of the wheel 10, or may be of any size that allows wheel 10 to remain in contact with the ground during use. Wheel cover 100 may remain stationary as wheel 10 is turning, and may facilitate shielding the rider or nearby environment from splashes and impacts from stones or other debris that contacts the wheel 10.

Shielding portion 102 may be suspended above skateboard wheel 10 to allow for a full range of motion of the wheel during skateboard operation. Furthermore, wheel cover 100 may prevent wheel bite by impeding a surface of the skateboard from contacting the surface of the wheel 10. Additionally, wheel cover 100 may allow a user to stand on the wheel, thereby allowing for new skateboard tricks and maneuvers to be performed.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A skateboard wheel cover, comprising: a shielding portion; and a coupling portion connected to the shielding portion.
 2. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 1, wherein the shielding portion has an arcuate shape.
 3. The skateboard cover of claim 1, wherein the shielding portion comprises a sidewall portion.
 4. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 3, wherein the sidewall portion comprises a reinforcing structure.
 5. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion comprises an aperture.
 6. The skateboard cover of claim 5, wherein the aperture is sized to couple to a wheel nut of a skateboard.
 7. The skateboard cover of claim 5, wherein the aperture is sized to receive an axle of a skateboard therethrough.
 8. The skateboard cover of claim 5, wherein the aperture is circular.
 9. The skateboard cover of claim 5, wherein the aperture is keyed to the shape of a wheel nut of a skateboard.
 10. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 1, wherein the wheel cover allows the skateboard wheel direct contact with the ground.
 11. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 1, wherein the wheel cover remains stationary during operation of the skateboard.
 12. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 1, wherein the shielding portion covers a portion of the skateboard wheel.
 13. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 1, wherein, when the cover is coupled to a skateboard, the shielding portion is suspended at a distance from a skateboard wheel.
 14. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 1, wherein the wheel cover is formed of at least one of plastic, PVC, rubber, or metal.
 15. A skateboard wheel cover, comprising: a shielding means for enclosing a portion of a skateboard wheel; and a coupling means, coupled to the shielding means, for attaching the skateboard wheel cover to a skateboard wheel.
 16. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 15, wherein the covering means comprises an arcuate shield shaped to enclose an upper portion of a skateboard wheel.
 17. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 12, wherein the coupling means is adapted to couple to a wheel nut of a skateboard.
 18. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 12, wherein the coupling means is adapted to receive an axle of a skateboard therethrough.
 19. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 12, wherein the shielding means remains stationary during operation of the skateboard.
 20. The skateboard wheel cover of claim 11, wherein the shielding means is suspended at a distance from a skateboard wheel. 